Directed by: John Badham
Starring: Daniel Stern, Roy Scheider, Warren Oates, Candy Clark
Lymangood and Frank find out that Blue Thunder is meant to be used as a offensive crowd control device. Frank and Lymangood also find out that the death of Diane McNeely made have been plotted ahead of time, not just a randon act of violence. Lymangood steals the video tape that has the information on Diane's death, but is tracked and killed as a result. Frank learns that Lymangood hit the tape and has Kate get it and take it to KBLA-TV. Swat teams attack Frank but Frank shoots down the helicopter, and destroyes and F-16 fighter in teh process.The mayor stops the operation after two civilian targets are attacked. Colonel Cochrane attacks Frank in his helicopter, and during Frank's flashbacks, that Cochrane is the one who pushed the Vietcong Soldier out of the helicopter. Frank gets the best of Cochrane and destroys his helicopter killing him. Frank then lands the Blue Thunder in front of a train and gets out before the train hits the Blue Thunder and destroys it. As Frank walks away from the wreckage, a news broadcast is heard that Diane McNeely's murder investigation is opened up again, and an investiage of police officers and government officals begins.
Anthony
Continuity mistake: When Roy Scheider's partner is killed, he is run over by a car. After the car runs him over, his body rolls and you can see his arms swinging freely even though his hands were bound by the plastic ties. Later when you see his body, his hands are bound again. (01:10:30)
Frank Murphy: Catch ya later.
Trivia: The registration number N77GH is visible on a gold placard on right surveillance camera' but only civilian aircraft are given November numbers. Military helicopters only have a series of numbers like on the tail. You aren't supposed to notice Blue Thunder's real "N" number, but it is there throughout the movie making it known it was truly a civilian helicopter.
Question: Just a question and an observation: When does Lymangood find out what JAFO means? He didn't know when he got into Blue Thunder for the first (and last) time: "When are you going to tell me what JAFO means?" 1. They find out about the evil plot. 2. Lymangood gets the tape after they land. 3. He leaves a recording for Frank inside Blue Thunder using "Big Brother", the cabin recorder. 4. He drops the tape off at a drive-in movie dumpster. 5. He calls and leave a voice-mail for Murphy. 6. He goes home and is attacked. So when was he told what JAFO means? Also, someone had a sense of humor about naming the Special helicopter. It was to be used in project THOR (Tactical Helicopter Offensive Response, the "proposed use of military helicopters to quell disorder"). Thor is the god of thunder in Norse mythology. Did they name the helicopter Blue "Thunder" because it was going to be used in Project THOR? It would have been nice to connect the two references in the movie.
Chosen answer: There was plenty of time from Lymangood asks what Jafo means to when he gets killed. For all we know it could have been weeks. It was only a simply question really. As for any connection between blue thunder and Thor, it could have been an in-joke, but only the filmmakers really know.
Gavin Jackson